Governor Jerry Brown is asking the legislature for money so that the state doesn’t have to order a mass release of prisoners. Brown’s bill would authorize 315-million dollars to lease private prison space and send more prisoners to out of state facilities. Fourth District Senator Jim Nielsen, says this is a good start to addressing the overcrowding issues.Click here to listen to Senator Jim Nielsen

In response to the Governor, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg presented a plan that would give California three more years to reduce its prison population with counties getting $200 million a year to expand drug treatment and mental health care for criminal offenders under the proposal.